Now, residents are left with residing with relatives, friends, or in vacant lots until they can rebuild or find new lodging

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Veronica Dircio, a 34-year-old housewife said "nothing was left" of the house she and her children called home before the earthquake hammered the town of San Juan Pilcaya in Puebla.
Photo:Reuters

66-year-old Prudencio Gutierrez, a farm worker, whose house was badly damaged said: "The most valuable thing that I recovered was my hat. The authorities said they were going to help us build a house, but I do not know if it's true."
Photo:Reuters

Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed as a result of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake.
Photo:Reuters

70-year-old housewife Maria Guzman's house in San Jose Platanar in Puebla state was left completely uninhabitable. Forced to live in a shelter, she said "The most valuable thing that I recovered was the photo of my wedding day."
Photo:Reuters

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake was preceded by another major tremor in the southwest of Mexico two weeks earlier that also displaced thousands of people.
Photo:Reuters

78-year-old Catalina Martinez's house was badly damaged, but with the assistance of family members, she was able to salvage some furniture. She now lives in her backyard and hopes that her home can be rebuilt. “I hope the authorities don't deceive us with promises. I don't know what's going to happen to us,” she said.
Photo:Reuters